AWC: Falcons target Bayana in semi finals

Nigeria’s Senior Women National Team, otherwise known as Super Falcons, on Sunday in Malabo made mincemeat of their Ivorian counterparts to reach the semi finals of the on-going 8th African Women Championship.

The cup holders exploded through winger Ogonna Chukwudi and Ngozi Ebere in the first half, before veteran Stella Mbachu scored her second of the tournament in the second period to take matters beyond doubt. The fellow West Africans got a consolation later on, but the Falcons had completed the job and were already looking forward to the clash with the Banyana Banyana on Wednesday.

Both teams will be flown to Bata for that second semi final, while host Equatorial Guinea will entertain Cameroon’s Lionesses at the Malabo Stadium in Wednesday’s first semi final.

Since the launch of the African Women Championship in 1998, the Falcons have won six of seven tournaments till date, with only the 2008 edition hosted by Equatorial Guinea eluding them. But Coach Kadiri Ikhana said on Sunday that there is no taking prisoners this time.

“We are ready for any team at this Championship. My girls are highly motivated with the Nigeria Football Federation having fulfilled the pledge to improve their win-bonuses. They love it and they are raring to go,” Ikhana said.

The final match of the African Women Championship comes up in Malabo next Sunday.